The commission of crimes using autonomous weapon systems: Issues of causation and attribution

Vasilios Tzoufis; Nikolaos  Petropoulos

doi:10.14512/tatup.33.2.35

Authors

Vasilios Tzoufis Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki (GR) btzoufis@gmail.com
Nikolaos Petropoulos City University of New York, New York (US) npetropoulos@astynomia.gr

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14512/tatup.33.2.35

Keywords:

autonomous weapons systems, attribution, causality, criminal law, international humanitarian law

Abstract

Today’s military takes advantage of technological progress primarily through developments in the war industry. Of particular importance is the development and use of advanced autonomous weapon systems, which are changing the way conflicts are fought and redefining the basic strategies on the modern battlefield. The use of these systems raises ethical, philosophical, and legal questions about the relationship of causality and attribution that must exist between an act and its criminal result.

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